Today's news - Tuesday, June 24, 2008

BREAKING NEWS......1025AM

MedEvac to resume flights from Pottsville

Medical transport services, operated by Lehigh Valley MedEvac, will resume sometime next week at the Mazzuca helipad in Pottsville. In a press release, the parties involved have determined that based on findings from the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration into the crash of the helicopter on May 30th, they will resume the flights. Mazzuca spokesperson Attorney Sud patel said that they based their decision on the "tremendous reputation" and experience of Lehigh Valley and the MedEvac program and the lives that have been saved. Hospital officials believe that the crash, which injured two crew members, was an isolated incident. Residents in the Mount Hope section of Pottsville, near the helipad, raised concerns at this month's Pottsville city council meeting about resuming the flights after the crash. We'll have comments from the parties involved and more details at wpparadio.com.

Fight in Frackville

A man had to be flown from the scene of a fight in Frackville early Saturday due to injuries. Frackville borough police say that a brawl broke out around 1:15am on South Line Street between two unidentified men. The victim is in Lehigh Valley Hospital in stable condition. Arrests are pending.


Flood bill passes House

A key piece of legislation to reduce flood-related damage has passed the House of Representatives. We told you last week that House Bill 2539 moved out of the House Environmental and Energy Committee to provide DEP authority to aid communities who are susceptible to flooding, before the waters rise. Floodplain and flood proofing management are key components of the bill. Now, according to Schuylkill County Representative Tim Seip, the legislation could help communities like Pine Grove and Schuylkill Haven, who incurred several million dollars in damages during the 2006 floods. House Bill 2539 now moves to the state Senate for consideration.


Damages on Bartram Trail

The picturesque Bartram Trail along the Schuylkill River provides recreation for many. Now, vandals have done damage to the trailhead near Landingville. The Schuylkill River Heritage Area manages the walking and biking trail, that spans a good part of the more than 100-mile stretch of the Schuylkill. Fences have been broken and handicap signs removed. Officials of the heritage area said that repairs will be made, but it may take some time. According to the Republican and Herald, the split rail fence will be replaced with boulders. The 1.5 mile section opened last September.


New Philly home burglarized

A home on Water Street in New Philadelphia was burglarized over the weekend. An unknown thief entered the home at 124B Water Street, through an unlocked door, and removed a PlayStation gaming system and games worth $800 dollars.


Armed robbery at Ashland convenience

An Ashland man is under arrest for holding up a borough convenience store Sunday night. Officers from Ashland PD were called to Turkey Hill, 1638 Centre Street around midnight, and found that 24-year-old Bryan Uroskie had entered the store, brandishing a knife and wearing sunglasses and a bandana, demanding money. The clerk handed Uroskie money from the register, and he fled on foot. Surveillance footage and other leads led them to Uroskie. Items tying him to the robbery, and the cash were found at his home. Uroskie was charged with three counts of robbery, theft, receiving stolen property and other counts by Ashland police. He was arraigned via video conference and sent to county prison in lieu of $25-thousand-dollars bail.


HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Lawmakers are entering the last week of the state's fiscal year attempting to piece together far-reaching policies as well as crafting a $28 billion spending plan. Gov. Ed Rendell's chief of staff says there are no major policy differences to delay a conclusion to negotiatons in the next week or so.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A Philadelphia police officer was shot in the arm early this morning, but authorities say he and his partner still managed to capture two robbery suspects. The wounded officer, a 29-year veteran of the force, was taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in good condition.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - A Dauphin County judge is being asked to quash subpoenas issued to some of the 15 journalists summoned to testify at a hearing on whether the secrecy of a grand jury investigation into casino owner Louis DeNaples was compromised. Lawyers for The Associated Press and The Morning Call of Allentown argue that their reporters' articles did not reveal the inner workings of the investigation.

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Two former Duquesne University basketball players who were shot in an on-campus shooting in 2006 are suing the university for negligence. Kojo Mensah and Shawn James accuse the university of not providing adequate security at a dance held in September 2006.

ERIE, Pa. (AP) - Pennsylvania State Police say a woman charged in the drunken-driving death of her son went to a bar after his funeral instead of reporting back to jail. Erin Howard is accused of driving drunk when crashing into a creek bank on June 14th, killing her six-year-old son. Howard is now charged with escape.

NEW YORK (AP) - Don Imus says it was sarcasm. Imus opened his radio show today trying to explain comments about the arrests of suspended Dallas Cowboys cornerbarck Adam Jones. Imus says he was being sarcastic about blacks being arrested for no reason.

WINFIELD, Mo. (AP) - The Mississippi River is receding in some places, but downstream, residents have been sandbagging to shore up levees. The river is expected to hit its high water mark in some parts of Missouri later this week.

MANILA, Philippines (AP) - Divers have gotten an up-close look inside a ferry that overturned in a typhoon over the weekend. So far, they've found only bodies inside the vessel. More than 800 people were on board when it capsized. Thirty-eight have been rescued.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Fed opens two days of meetings today, but don't expect any more interest cuts. The board is expected to keeps rates where they are in order to keep inflation in check.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - The Mormon church wants its California members to help amend the state's constitution to ban gay marriage. A letter to Mormon bishops calls for Mormons to donate "means and time" to the ballot measure.